This book was released January 16th in the US, so you can pick up a copy for yourself if you want.

I LOVED this book, so much.

I did not realize that this was a P&P adaptation that I needed, but here we are. Honestly I think I enjoy this version better. There’s more interaction between our leading couple, and that allows for more relationship development.

Plus there were some interesting shifts in family dynamics that worked nicely, as well as friendship dynamics. It was interesting to see who knew Oliver’s truth and who discovered it along the way. Along with that, of course, was being able to see how folks reacted to learning about Oliver. Considering how close Elizabeth is to her father in the original, I was happily tearing up in this version when Oliver reveals himself to Mr Bennet.

Yes, the story pretty much follows the plot points we all know from the classic Pride & Prejudice, with only minor adjustments for it to fit with the added character and story changes.

I was obsessed with this, and didn’t want to stop reading. The fact that it read very quickly as well meant that the journey was over too soon, but at least I can always enjoy a reread, because this is a book that will be staying in my library for a while.

Oh, I should say that there is a good amount of deadnaming in this book, so if you are sensitive to that, be aware before you begin. I know every time someone said Elizabeth, I was finding myself as internally frustrated as Oliver was.

Overall, I can absolutely say that Most Ardently is in the running for my top reads of 2024 list, and I definitely hope to read more of these remixed classics going forward.

I loved this! I've always enjoyed the story of Pride and Prejudice - and its film adaptations and reimaginings - so I was very curious to see how the story would be remixed with the main character as a trans man. Personally, as a nonbinary person, this felt like the fluffiest wish fulfillment! Not only does Oliver Bennet have friends and allies who know his truth and support him, but he also easily passes when going out in public as his true self. It's during one of these outings that he's befriended by Darcy and Bingley, and forms an budding friendship with Darcy. Here it gets a bit Shakespearean, as Oliver is forced to hide his truth when later confronting Darcy as "Elizabeth." While the story stays mostly the same, many of the characters are queer - and younger - and it's interesting to see how motivations are shifted to suit the new spin on the story. (Yes, Wickham is still a villain!) All in all, I thought it was heartwarming and sweet! I've read many different takes on this stories - from zombies to murder mysteries - but this is by far my favorite.

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. Come ON. Gay Pride and Prejudice retelling, a trans protagonist and an awkward gay Darcy. perfection. I cannot recommend this book enough, because it is everything. I've told all my friends who have (or haven't) read Pride and Prejudice to read this because it is the most perfect retelling (yes, I see you Pride and Prejudice and Zombies but... hear me out). I don't even know what words to use to convince everyone I have ever known to read this book (unless you're transphobic, in which cause check yourself).

I have read plenty of bad Pride and Prejudice adaptations in my time, and I am grateful to say that Most Ardently is not among them. To retell such a beloved classic is a tall order, and Novoa manages to do it well, putting a spin on it for a fun and easy read. It is a delightful twist on a classic story that provides a look at what it might have been like to be transgender in the 1800s.

The world of Most Ardently will look familiar to many: the Bennet family lives in Regency England, not far outside London, where Mrs. Bennet obsessively attempts to marry off her daughters to rich men and Mr. Bennet quietly manages the modest family finances. But while most of the world believes the Bennet family to have five daughters, Oliver Bennet knows they actually have four daughters and a single son. Only a select few know Oliver’s true self: his sister Jane, his best friend Charlotte, and her lover Lu. But when his escapades outside of the house as his true self end with Oliver running into Jane’s suitor Bingley and his rude friend Darcy, Oliver is runs the risk of spending time with people who know “Elizabeth” in search of friendship, and maybe something else.

I like to say that Pride and Prejudice is the reason I love enemies to lovers romance, I am constantly looking for one that is just as good. Which is why I have to clarify right away that Most Ardently does not follow the same romantic beats of P&P. However, I found there to be a lot of fun in the way Novoa shakes it up. Rather than a contentious relationship in which each party has to escape their prejudices, we get to see Oliver and Darcy interacting as friends throughout the story. Therefore, the tension comes from whether (or when) people will realize just how familiar Oliver looks, and Oliver's internal tension about what kind of life he wants to live. I also have to say that I did particularly like the ending to the novel, it was incredibly fitting.

In the end, I do wish the novel had more time. Everything felt rushed, like it was just hitting the most notable plot points, which meant there was less time to dig into the themes of the novel. As a result, I found that many of the themes were watered down or lost all together. There were obviously the added themes of transness and queerness in Regency England, but I still would have liked a stronger throughline of some of the original class commentary. And sometimes Oliver drifted into “this is wrong because I am actually a man” while failing to acknowledge that the gender discrimination was just wrong in the first place.

There are a few changes to the plot I would not have made (like splitting Charlotte into two characters), but which do the overall story no harm. I have to respect that it truly is a re-mix of the book, and works well as a stand-alone novel. The romance is cute, there are some incredibly touching scenes between Oliver and the various members of his family, and it is fun to read. I think it is a great way to get a young reader interested in Pride and Prejudice, and a look at what our historical records could look like if we had more stories of trans people in the past.

To start, I would like to say that Gabe Cole Novoa has been added to a very, very short list of authors who are automatic reads for me, and that is entirely thanks to "Most Ardently".

Many who know me also know that "Pride and Prejudice" is one of my most favorite novels. But in a world where queer people are still consistently underrepresented, and more specifically the trans community, it was so refreshing to read this retelling. I wish that I could properly articulate the pure joy that I felt when I read this, or explain to you how many times I found myself kicking my feet happily as each chapter took me deeper and deeper down into this love story.

I have been no stranger to the remixed books which have been beautiful in their queer retellings of classic literature, but I have to say that so far this has been my absolute favorite of the bunch. I want to push this book at every single person queer or not so that this piece of literature can become every bit as praised as Jane Austen's original.

For anyone that loves Pride and Prejudice, but want it to be way more sapphic, Gabe Cole Novoa has granted your wishes! The entire time I was reading this book I couldn't help but feel that I was reading the ultimate fanfic to the Jane Austen novel. This was truly a remix that stayed true to Jane Austen, but provided a fresher and more diverse take.

Everything that the blurb for this book promises, it delivers. I loved how original the story was and the history included at the end of the book to back it up. That said, I really feel like this book could have been its' own story and didn't need the backdrop of being a remix of the classic. I loved the story, but just had a hard time making that switch in my head. This is a personal preference though.

Most Ardently is the the type of diverse historical fiction that we need! There were so many great things about the research that went into it, as well as the ultimately wholesome story. The plot was enjoyable, but make sure you pay attention to the author's very well-done trigger warnings at the beginning of the book. Overall, I am very happy to have read this book and think that there will be so many people that will enjoy it!

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan for this arc!

This has to be one of my favorite Pride and Prejudice retellings to date. The author was able to capture the spirit and essence of P&P and make it his own.

As someone who falls under the trans umbrella as both the main character and the author, it was delightful to be represented in a retelling of one of my favorite books.

Most Ardently is a trans and queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Oliver Blake is the true name of the traditionally female character, and is forced to appear as a girl due to societal standards of the time. I thought this was an interesting retelling of the original story and I was excited to read it!

It just didn't end up being my cup of tea. Oliver was sooooooooooo whinyyyyyyy, I appreciate the author showing how difficult gender dysphoria could be, especially in a time when people had to conform to specific gender roles, but there really wasn't much to Oliver outside of his crushing dysphoria. He was also rude to just about everyone he is supposed to be close to. It was hard to sympathize with him when we weren't given many redeeming qualities. I would have liked to see more of the side characters as well. I also don't know why the characters were aged down into teenagers. Removing some of the general teenage emotions and angst would probably have increased my enjoyment of the book.

Overall, I had a hard time getting through this book but recommend it if you're looking for a new take on an old story. 2 stars from me. Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the eARC of this book, my thoughts are my own!

Thank you to McMillian Publishing and Netgalley for this advanced copy.

Is anyone not redoing Austen these days? It feels like there is a retelling a week. But thank god for Most Ardently! What a treasure of a retelling! Taking this storying, introducing Elizabeth Bennet as Oliver, a transman, quite frankly just makes sense. Gabe Cole Novoa takes such care with Austen's framework while writing a wonderful YA story of manners, love, and a person's search for a space where they can be their authentic selves. This felt fresh without feeling too new and the characters are changed ever so slightly to make the story work. The author clearly understood everyone's motivation in the story and treated it with respect.

I can't wait to read more of these retellings, this was fantastic.

Overall this was very sweet and I think the premise of Darcy being queer but feeling forced to marry a woman is a great explanation for his overall ~deal~. I did catch myself being like "wow Mr. Bennet is remarkably accepting of trans identity for a Regency era man...." but then I remembered an interview I'd read with, I think Alexis Hall? someone who said something like "all we want for queer historical romance is the same suspension of disbelief for straight historical romance, like it's very unlikely that a governess would blissfully wed a duke so why can't we embrace the duke being queer and happy?" and you know what? Yeah!

I think probably for the presumed target audience of younger queer readers they will be more likely to just accept and enjoy the story. which they deserve!!

This was a fun telling of Pride and Prejudice. Oliver is the second oldest Bennet but has knows that he isn’t what he’s suppose to be because he was born as Elizabeth. This does follow the major plot points of the original. With some very well done twists.

The romance between Oliver and Darcy was my favorite part. Wickham is always a snake.

3.5, rounded up. I wish there had been more of a focus on Darcy and Oliver’s relationship (feels pretty insta-lovey; I wanted to see more of a connection between them), but this is SO cute overall! I love how supportive Oliver’s friends and family are and how many allies he has. The parallels between this and the original P&P are fun too.

I have to admit that I haven't read Pride and Prejudice and am merely a huge fan of the 2005 movie. However, I am sure rewriting a beloved classic is difficult, and doing it well even more so. I was initially drawn to the book because of the premise and I love the cover art. I thought the romance was a little fast, with Oliver seemingly attracted to Darcy quickly after meeting him, so that removes a bit of the tension I am used to seeing with Pride and Prejudice, but aside from that I really enjoyed it and will be looking out for more of Novoa's works.

While I am normally a fan of retellings with a twist, unfortunately this remix doesn't fix the fatal flaw of the original: it can't redeem Darcy as a character.

This book is not for the die hard Pride & Prejudice fan. I loved the idea that Elizabeth is a trans man, but this unfortunately deters from the original story too much. Oliver falls for Darcy much too quick. One of the best parts of Pride & Prejudice is the slow burn between these two and this just zips past that. Also they turn Mrs. Bennett into the villain which she never was. I mean no disrespect but it almost feels like the author read an outline of the original Pride & Prejudice & didn’t give the actual book a read.

Now this is not to say the book was bad. It was a very good story about a trans man in the regency period. But it should have been that on its own instead of a Pride & Prejudice retelling.

I'm already a huge fan of these remixed classics but this one was just so FUN and felt faithful to Jane Austen's original while bringing some lovely new content in to the retelling. It's hard to describe these sorts of retellings because you already know (for the most part) the story you are in for but the way they are delivered is so refreshing. So if you love the source material, and are interested in the various levels of diversity added in, then this would be a no brainer to add to your TBR. Oliver Bennett is trans and our Darcy is queer, while Charlotte is also a queer character. This was a breath of fresh air and was perfectly narrated by Harrison Knights. I am so intrigued to try some of Gabe Cole Novoa's other novels now!

Thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for this free digital copy in exchange for an honest review! This book is available now.

Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa is labeled as a "Pride and Prejudice Remix" and I think that's an apt description! I always enjoy reading Jane Austen retellings, and this one was enjoyable. I wasn't in love with it, but the story was incredibly sweet and I really liked all the things that made this book stand alone from the original Pride and Prejudice story. This is a YA book so the characters are all a little younger, and our main character is transmasculine Oliver Bennet who develops a crush on (you guessed it) broody and aloof Darcy.

The ending was adorable and gave me all the warm fuzzies! I grinned like a fool at the interactions between Oliver and Darcy towards the end...they are both so lovable.

If you love Austen retellings, I recommend this one!

I loved this one. The vibes, the accuracy to the original story but with the added lgbtq twist felt so authentic. I enjoyed reading this one from beginning to end. I 100% recommend!

4.5 stars

Have I read Pride and Prejudice? No. Do I think this is better? Possibly. I know, bold statement, but the retelling with a transgender boy and a gay love interest was so great and exactly what I wanted.

Oliver's struggles with being true to himself while living in a time where there were almost no out transgender people hit me hard. Every time Oliver is misgendered and forced to dress and act as a woman, I wanted to cry for him. To slightly balance this, Oliver does have some friends and family that he can be himself around and I loved these people.

The pace is fast moving and the ending made me so happy. This is a hit for sure!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All opinions are my own. Thank you to Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for the copy.

As many of you know, I love a good retelling, and boy, did I absolutely love this one! This book is part of a series called Remixed Classics, in which authors from marginalized backgrounds reinterpret classic works through their own cultural lens to subvert the overwhelming cishet, white, and male canon. (Two years ago, Self-Made Boys, a retelling of The Great Gatsby, was in my top 5 favorite books.)

Oliver Bennet longs for a life different than the one he is stuck in, a life away from gowns, corsets, and the pressures of society. Because Oliver is known to the majority of his family and friends as Elizabeth, and he is expected to dance at balls, flirt coquettishly, and act like a lady, in order to attract a suitable husband. Oliver has no desire to live his life as someone he is not; he cannot imagine life married to someone who wants to suppress his true identity and his spirit.

While his mother is desperate to marry off all of her daughters, Oliver resists every attempt. Sometimes he is able to sneak out of his house dressed in the way he feels most comfortable, as a young gentleman. And on one of his outings, he runs into Darcy, the handsome young man who is a close friend of Bingley, of whom Oliver's sister Jane is enamored. Oliver is shocked that Darcy is sensitive, intelligent, and enjoyable company, especially since he was rude to "Elizabeth" at a ball.

The more time Oliver spends with Darcy, the more he starts to believe he might be able to have the life—and love—he truly wants. But as some suitors become more persistent, and even threaten to reveal Oliver's true identity to his family, he has to decide whether to follow his heart and risk disgracing his family, or living the life that society expects "Elizabeth" to.

I am a huge fan of Pride & Prejudice and this "remix" hit all of the right notes. Gabe Cole Novoa did such an incredible job with this book. My heart swelled, I got teared up, and immediately needed to watch the film version of the original book, in which Colin Firth looked immensely delicious. Many thanks to NetGalley and Feiwel & Friends for an advance copy of the book!